Broncos have sights set on Hall

Broncos Update

12/02/2003

It took all of one day for the Broncos to shift their focus from the Raiders to the Chiefs and Dante Hall, whose 97 yard punt return in the Oct. 5 game was arguably the pivotal play in both teams' seasons. Read more about that season-changing play and the Broncos' preparations for Hall in today's news reports.

Hall becomes target for Broncos' revenge - Denver Post - Adam Schefter
Tuesday, December 02, 2003 - As if they still were trying to wash away the stench from early October, the Broncos stepped into the showers at Oakland's Network Associates Coliseum on Sunday and stepped back in time. To a play the special teams failed to make. To Kansas City return man Dante Hall. Anticipation building, steam rising, the Broncos were devising ways to defense the nearly indefensible return man.

Coach to Lelie: Keep chin up - Denver Post - Patrick Saunders
December 02, 2003 - Wide receiver Ashley Lelie and running back Clinton Portis were the two gems of the Broncos' 2002 draft class. But while Portis continues to sparkle, Lelie's game has lost some of its luster. Coach Mike Shanahan said Monday that it's not time to panic, or time to criticize Lelie, his first-round draft choice.

Chiefs hail Broncos as toughest test yet - Denver Post - Doug Tucker - Associated Press
Tuesday, December 02, 2003 - KANSAS CITY, Mo. - With all due respect to the only team that has beaten them, the Kansas City Chiefs do not consider the Cincinnati Bengals the toughest outfit they've faced this year. Coach Dick Vermeil, for one, gives that nod to the Broncos. A one-point victory over Denver on Oct. 5 in Kansas City put the Chiefs (11-1) on the path to having the best 12-game record in the league and in franchise history.

Little big man Chief concern - Rocky Mountain News - Clay Latimer
December 2, 2003 - KANSAS CITY - The humiliating moment came in a blink of an eye, on the first day of seventh-grade football practice in Houston. One minute Dante Hall was preparing to join his buddies on the A team, the next the coach was assigning him to the B team, with all the other stragglers.

K.C.? Broncos 'owe them one' - Rocky Mountain News - Lee Rasizer
December 2, 2003 - Just two months ago, the identity of the AFC West's dominant team - and perhaps the league's - was in doubt as Denver headed to Kansas City in a battle of unbeatens. The answer is clear-cut in many ways now. The Chiefs are 11-1, running away with the division and owning the NFL's best record. The Broncos are 7-5 and clinging to postseason hopes.

Portis' grit emerges - Rocky Mountain News - Lynn DeBruin
December 2, 2003 - After the heaviest workload of his career, one might think Clinton Portis would be first in line at the Denver Broncos training room Monday morning. Fat chance. Portis didn't even come in for treatment.

Adams: Road in December tough for Broncos - Rocky Mountain News - Sam Adams
December 2, 2003 - A 16-game National Football League season is hardly a sprint. Think of it as more of an Iditarod. And the Eskimo dog days of winter are in December, when contenders pull away from pretenders in the playoff chase. The playoff fate for the Denver Broncos will be determined this month. When the ice clears, it could come down to the Broncos and Miami Dolphins for a wild-card berth into the postseason.

Krieger: Head of defense refuses to take offense - Rocky Mountain News - Dave Krieger
December 2, 2003 - In case you're keeping track, I'm doing my best to keep that promise I made in training camp about picking fights with Larry Coyer. I figure, if Daryl Gardener can do it, how hard can it be? The first time I tried, as you might recall, Coyer responded by telling the truth. I admit, it threw me off my groove a little. I can tell you this: Neither Greg Robinson nor Ray Rhodes ever pulled a stunt like that.

Shanahan won't argue with Raiders coach - Daily Camera - Ryan Thorburn
December 2, 2003 - Mike Shanahan didn't want to second-guess his AFC West counterpart for ripping the Oakland Raiders after the Broncos' 22-8 victory on Sunday at Network Associates Coliseum. "I'm not going to argue with the coach," said Denver's head coach, who understands how tough it can be to work with Al Davis watching your every move.

How much of load can Portis carry? - Daily Camera - Ryan Thorburn
December 2, 2003 - Clinton Portis saved the day in Oakland, but can he save the season by himself? Portis, who is listed at 205 pounds thanks to his drive-through diet, carried the ball a career-high 34 times for 170 yards and two touchdowns to drag Denver to a 22-8 victory over the Raiders.

Game got Chiefs going - Kansas City Star - Adam Teicher
Tue, Dec. 02, 2003 - The 4-0 Chiefs knew at that moment their chances for a division title might rest on the outcome of the Oct. 5 game against the 4-0 Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium. Only with hindsight can they see the impact that day's game wound up having on their season. The Chiefs beat the Broncos 24-23 on Dante Hall's controversial, 93-yard punt-return touchdown in the fourth quarter. The win allowed the Chiefs to begin the season with nine straight wins and currently hold the NFL's best record at 11-1.

Monday Notebook: Cole's Injury All That Ails Broncos - DenverBroncos.com - Andrew Mason
Monday, December 1, 2003 - At some day-after-game press conferences, Head Coach Mike Shanahan has spent almost as much time reading the often-lengthy injury list as he has answering reporters' questions. This week's was an exception to that rule, as he only had one ailing player to discuss -- reciever/kick returner Chris Cole.